Sitting in the same car, Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang were not the only two people in the car. With the addition of an official, the car suddenly seemed crowded.
Moreover, this official was very excited because it was his first time to board Princess Danyang's carriage. He chattered non-stop, as if he wanted to continue chatting with Mu Wanyao all the way.
"Your Highness is in great shape today, demonstrating the power of our great country."
"Why would His Highness invite me to ride in the same carriage? Does His Highness know me? The last time I saw His Highness was three years ago, when His Highness returned to Chang'an..."
Mu Wan fanned herself impatiently, her face cold, trying to shut the official up with her attitude. Just sit in the car obediently, why are you talking so much?
The official didn't understand the expression and continued to talk to the princess curiously.
Compared with him, Yan Shang seemed particularly quiet.
Mu Wanyao looked at Yan Shang and saw him sitting opposite with his head down, listening to the official pestering her. Yan Shang smiled slightly. Mu Wanyao stared at him, and he raised his eyes as if he noticed her gaze, and took the initiative to say before the official started the next topic, "We are almost at the residence of His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin."
Mu Wanyao immediately seized the opportunity: "Does the Central Government want to punish the King of Qin? He held my people captive for two months before releasing them, so he should be punished!"
The official immediately spoke up, patting his chest and assuring Mu Wan: "Don't worry, Your Highness, we two are here to question the King of Qin with the imperial edict. At the very least, the King of Qin should reflect on his mistakes in the near future."
Mu Wanyao said, "He is in charge of three ministries. If he takes a break, someone in one of the three ministries might have problems. I think the central government can take this opportunity to take a closer look. If necessary, I have a few officials I can recommend..."
The young official understood the princess' intention to place someone in the position and said with a smile, "It's just a small matter. If Your Highness can recommend someone, the Secretariat will consider it."
Mu Wanyao was immediately surprised.
So what's the point of Yan Shang staying in the Secretariat? He doesn't care about personal matters and can't help with any small matters. He has been in the Secretariat for half a year, but Mu Wanyao has not gained any benefits from it. At most, he knows the news of the court's movements earlier than others.
As soon as the young official returned to Beijing, he casually agreed to do Mu Wan a small favor.
Mu Wan smiled, stopped waving her round fan, and leaned toward the official, "May I ask what your name is, sir?"
The princess was so beautiful and her eyes were as bright as a lake. The young official immediately said embarrassedly, "My surname is Jiang."
Mu Wanyao suddenly realized: "But he is the young man from the Jiang family, a famous family in Qinghe County?"
Young official: “Exactly.”
Mu Wan smiled and said, "I know. My cousin married into your family. I haven't seen her for many years. Is she doing well in Qinghe?"
In this way, the two finally found a topic to talk about. The princess was so greedy that Yan Shang was speechless. He tried to cough to remind her, but Mu Wan gave him a warning glare, indicating that he should not disturb her from doing her work.
Yan Shang was fine with what they were saying at first, but the topic got deeper and deeper, and they all started discussing the future arrangements of the entire court... Those two were so uncalm that Yan Shang had no choice but to be the third person among the three who disturbed their friendship -
He reminded: "Jiang Lang, you can't just spread the arrangements of the Secretariat at will."
The young official was stunned for a moment, then realized that he had been tricked by Mu Wanyao and had said too much. Mu Wanyao glared at Yan Shang fiercely, as if he disliked him for meddling in other people's business.
After such a long delay, they finally arrived at the residence of the King of Qin. The two officials got off the car, the young official got off first, and Yan Shang followed. Before Yan Shang got off the car, he looked back at Mu Wanyao. He looked hesitant, and seeing her cold and gloomy face, he gently pulled her sleeve.
Yan Shang said softly: "Your Highness, I am doing this for your own good..."
Mu Wan glanced over, with an arrogant look on her face and a faint smile on her lips: "Yanshang, just wait for me."
Yan Shang sighed, thinking that this was the result.
However, Mu Wan suddenly leaned over and bit his ear very quickly. His face flushed, and he was frightened and stiffened. He turned his head back to avoid being seen by the young official outside the car.
Mu Wanyao hooked his ear again, and said sweetly, "Wait for me in the bed."
Yan Shang: “…”
And she pushed him away, causing him to stumble back and fall out of the car. He looked up into the car, and she covered her face with a round fan, revealing only a pair of autumn-like eyes, which looked at him with sparkling water. His throat rolled, and he was secretly shocked that he had suddenly become lustful, and he quickly looked away and dared not look any longer.
The princess' carriage drove away leisurely. Yan Shang sorted himself out and decided that he would not make a fool of himself, so he went to greet the young official next to him.
The young official stared at the dust rising from the princess' carriage, looking lost: "Erlang, do you think His Highness is interested in me? He invited me to ride in the same carriage and chatted with me cordially? His Highness and I had such a pleasant conversation, does His Highness want me to be his lover?"
He was troubled: "So should I obey or not?"
Yan Shang: “…”
He asked, "How can I follow?"
The young official glanced at him and said, "Are you jealous that I am enjoying a good conversation with His Highness?"
Yan Shang: "...My dear, please say less. I'm afraid you will regret it when you know the truth."
-----
When Mu Wan arrived at the Prince of Jin's mansion, there was a hint of smile in her eyes. She had gauze wrapped around her arms, and her rose-red dress dragged behind her. The overly long hem of her dress was carefully held up by the maid. The belt around her waist fluttered lightly, hooking her slender and graceful waist.
Looking from afar, it really looks like a tree full of bright flowers, clusters of them dazzling.
Princess Danyang walked along the way, graceful and elegant, lazy and graceful, making the concubines of Prince Jin's mansion very envious of her romantic temperament. If a man saw her, he would be so fascinated that he would give his life to her.
Mu Wanyao came to Prince Jin's mansion to see Chunhua.
Chunhua had just given birth to a son, the first son of the Jin prince. The Jin prince was very happy and went to the palace before dawn to ask the emperor to give him a name. Mu Wanyao learned about the Jin prince's first son from the emperor, so she came to the Jin prince's mansion to visit him.
Since Chunhua entered the Prince of Jin's mansion, this was only the second time that Mu Wanyao came to see her. Just as Mu Wanyao said, she didn't want to get too close to the Prince of Jin, and she came here because of Chunhua's childbirth.
Chunhua was locked up in the room all day to recuperate after giving birth, and she was always worried about Princess Danyang outside. She heard from Princess Jin that the princess sent King Wuman out of the city today on behalf of the crown prince. When Chunhua heard the news, she was happy for the princess' current status, but she was also worried that the princess would be in a very bad mood when she saw King Wuman, and she would hide away quietly to feel uncomfortable.
However, when Muwan sat beside Chunhua's bed, Chunhua saw that the princess had a smile in her eyes and there was not a trace of gloom on her face.
Mu Wanyao urged: "Let me see your son quickly."
Chunhua immediately asked the maid to bring the swaddled baby to Mu Wanyao to see. Mu Wanyao leaned over to take a look and said, "He has delicate features and looks pretty. But I heard that newborn babies are all ugly, aren't they?"
Chunhua smiled gently and explained, "It may be a little ugly when it is just born, but it will become more and more beautiful after its eyebrows and eyes grow. Look, Your Highness, Yue'er is smiling at you."
Mu Wan raised an eyebrow and said, "Did the emperor give me the name 'Mu Yue'? The word Yue... is okay, right?"
She thought that the word "Yue" was a bit too big, but when she remembered that he was the eldest son of Prince Jin's Mansion, she felt that it didn't matter if it was a bit too big.
Mu Wanyao looked at Chunhua and saw the sun shining warmly from outside. The girl was holding her own child, lowering her head and humming a song to comfort the child. Compared with the past, Chunhua was much plumper and had more kindness and love that only a mother could have.
Chunhua looked like this, and it seemed that the King of Jin treated her well. This made Mu Wanyao feel relieved.
Fortunately, her status was high enough, so the tragedy she had experienced would not happen to Chunhua. Just for Chunhua, she should be in a higher position. Only when she was strong enough, no one dared to touch the people around her.
Chunhua smiled and said to the princess, "Your Highness, please hug Yue'er."
Mu Wan shook her head in disgust, put her hands behind her back, and hid far away: "I don't like children, I won't hold them."
Chunhua knew the princess's heart knot, so she just gave gentle suggestions, hoping that the princess could open her heart.
Perhaps it was because of her good relationship with Chunhua, or perhaps it was the warm atmosphere of the room that made Mu Wanyao feel safe, Mu Wanyao moved closer little by little, and with Chunhua's guidance, she clumsily and stiffly picked up the child.
The child in her arms blinked his eyes, as clear as black grapes, and smiled at Mu Wan.
Mu Wanyao's heart softened in an instant, but then stiffened subtly.
She turned her head and snorted, "My arms are sore, don't hug me anymore."
Chunhua had been observing Mu Wanyao's expression. As soon as Mu Wanyao froze, she quickly took the child away, fearing that she would be upset. Chunhua looked at Mu Wanyao carefully, thinking that Mu Wanyao would be sad or suddenly cold-faced, but Mu Wanyao just sat back leisurely, fanning herself and smiling.
Obviously, that little discomfort did not bring much stimulation to Mu Wanyao.
Chunhua was puzzled and thought: It seems that His Highness has really become much better than before and has been more lenient towards her.
What caused such a change in the princess?
Chunhua's heart moved, and she asked the maids to take the child away. After shielding the servants and leaving only two people in the room, she whispered to the princess: "Your Highness and Yan Erlang...are they okay?"
Mu Wan couldn't stop the smile in her eyes.
She has a bit of the self-satisfaction of a young girl, and also a bit of the cuteness and shyness of a little girl.
Mu Wan shook her head and said generously: "Very good."
She couldn't help but share again: "I slept with him!"
He frowned again, "It's a pity that he was so busy that he disappeared after only sleeping with me once. I suspected that he was hiding, but he also greeted me every day. I don't know if I was being too suspicious... But it doesn't matter. He lives next door anyway, so he can't hide for long."
Chunhua is different from the rule-abiding Princess Yuyang. She satisfies Mu Wanyao's desire to talk to others.
Chunhua covered her mouth in surprise: "Really? I thought Your Highness and Erlang had already, had already..."
Mu Wanyao said regretfully, "He is becoming harder and harder to fool. At the beginning, he believed everything I said, but now if I don't show some tricks, he is really hard to fool. It's really stressful for me to get along with such a smart guy."
Chunhua smiled: "It doesn't matter. Erlang likes His Highness. For a person like Yan Erlang, whoever he likes should trust his character."
Mu Wan shook her head and smiled, biting her lip.
She sat on the couch and swung her legs, not very well behaved. She didn't have the bearing of a princess, but more like a little girl.
Mu Wan shook his brows and relaxed: "I think so too. If he makes me stop believing, then I will be truly disappointed with this world. But..."
She tilted her head to look at Chunhua, a little curious and a little embarrassed: "Do you think he likes me very much?"
Chunhua said: "Erlang just likes Your Highness. We can all see it."
Mu Wan hesitated: "But he is very nice to everyone. I found that no matter whether it is men or women, they all like him..."
Chunhua: "But Jilang will just follow behind your Highness, constantly asking 'what did I do wrong?'"
Mu Wanyao was stunned when she saw Chunhua imitating Yan Shang's speech. Then she couldn't help laughing and pinched Chunhua's face: "Oh, you have learned bad things. You can even make jokes..."
Mu Wanyao felt that Yan Shang treated her differently, she just needed to confirm it from others to see if she was wrong because her lover saw beauty in her. Chunhua knew her hesitation and distrust of men, and also knew that this was the first time the princess liked a man, so she would have many confusions and concerns.
So Chunhua encouraged Muwanyao very firmly.
Chunhua hopes that His Highness can live a good life. His Highness was so unfortunate in the first half of his life, so he should be happy enough in the second half, only then will God be fair.
Mu Wanyao talked to Chunhua for a long time, and finally asked: "I suggested to my father that Yan Shang should be promoted. Do you think Yan Shang would feel that I humiliated him if he knew about it?"
Chunhua: "I don't think Erlang is the kind of person who would assume ill will from others. But if Your Highness is not confident, you can ask him in person. I now feel that between men and women, some things should actually be made clear, and there should be no regrets."
There was a hint of worry between her brows.
Mu Wan paused and looked at Chun Hua. Both girls fell silent, knowing who Chun Hua was suddenly sighing about.
In silence, Chunhua's voice was a little trembling: "Your Highness, he, he also..."
Mu Wanyao said calmly, "Don't ask too much about people who have nothing to do with you. Just be a concubine of the King of Jin and it will be good for everyone."
Chunhua forced a smile and nodded.
Mu Wanyao turned his head to look at her and said softly, "After you leave the confinement period, you still have to stay with Princess Jin, understand? It's not okay to be a concubine and give birth to the eldest son without anyone to protect you."
Chunhua said, "I know. I'm thinking...if the princess still can't give birth to a child in another year, I will ask for grace and ask the princess to raise Yue'er and let Yue'er be registered under the princess' name. This way, it will be good for everyone."
Mu Wanyao was silent for a moment, then asked, "Is Fifth Brother treating you well?"
Chunhua: “Not bad.”
Mu Wanyao nodded, and while she was speaking, someone outside reported that Prince Jin had returned home and asked about the princess.
Mu Wanyao said with disgust: "I won't have dinner with him, so he doesn't need to worry about me and can just go and do his own thing."
The servant outside the door went to reply, while Chunhua looked at the princess and asked curiously, "Prince Jin actually observes etiquette and rules, why does Your Highness seem to dislike him?"
Mu Wan shook his head and said, "Because I can tell he has been pretending."
Chunhua laughed: "So what? Pretending to be 'righteous and moral' is still 'righteous and moral'. Pretending to be a saint is a true saint."
Mu Wanyao said, "Because he doesn't pretend well enough. I can see the traces. I don't like such insincere people. Once the true nature of such insincere people is exposed, it will definitely cause big trouble. And if he loses his true nature for his whole life and pretends like this, he is finished."
Mu Wan frowned and said, "He wants to give others the impression of a gentleman who does not compete. He has been like this all these years... Actually, Yan Shang is like this too. But Yan Shang's daily behavior gives people a very real feeling. Yan Shang will open his heart to others and will be considerate of everyone... Fifth Brother can't do this, it looks very awkward.
"The difference between the two is that Yan Shang wants to be a true gentleman, while Fifth Brother just wants to use being a gentleman as a means... So I accept Yan Shang, but I don't like Fifth Brother. You don't have to take him too seriously, understand?"
Chunhua was confused, so she just nodded and said she remembered it.
-----
Yan Shang came back from the King of Qin and heard a piece of news, so he went back to the Secretariat.
In the Secretariat, he saw the gift that the Wuman King left for the Wei Dynasty - a Wuman envoy named Luo Xiu.
This Luo Xiu was obviously from the Wei Dynasty, but he was an envoy of the Wuman. Yan Shang had seen this person before, but he didn't expect Meng Zaishi to keep this person for the Wei Dynasty.
The Secretariat had no idea who this person was, so after Yan Shang came, they threw this troublesome person to Yan Shang - since Yan Shang had the most dealings with King Wuman, so let Yan Shang guess King Wuman's true intentions.
After Yan Shang talked with Luo Xiu, he told other officials in the Secretariat that Luo Xiu was actually an envoy sent by the King of Nanman, not the King of Wuman.
The officials were surprised: "You figured it out by trying it out?"
Yan Shang said gently: "Yeah."
The officials nodded. After spending a few months together, they had great confidence in Yan Shang's eloquence. They did not doubt him at the moment, but secretly pondered what the Nanman King meant.
After a long while, an official said, "In that case, this person is indeed a great gift. Nanman sent this person here, obviously to alienate us from Wuman. We should keep this person in Chang'an as an official and assign him a random position, but we must not let this person go back to Nanman."
This was what the senior officials were studying, and Yan Shang only had to follow orders.
After those officials had agreed on an official position for Luo Xiu, Yan Shang was assigned to comfort Luo Xiu and threaten him to stay in Chang'an and not think about going back to Nanman.
After Yan Shang finished his work as usual, Luo Xiu was confused and believed Yan Shang very much. After all, Yan Shang was a low-ranking official, his tone was gentle, and he looked like a good person... Yan Shang easily tricked Luo Xiu into staying in Chang'an, and comforted him by saying that he would help him return to Nanman.
Luo Xiu: "My dear, you have to help me! I am not from your Great Wei, I am not used to living here all the time! If anything happens to me, our king will be unhappy."
Yan Shang smiled and responded in a friendly manner.
-----
After finishing these things, Yan Shang returned to his mansion and asked Han Shuxing to come out.
Han Shuxing was taken away by Mu Wanyao that day to pretend to be the King of Wuman. After being asked by Yan Shang to come, Han Shuxing stayed with Yan Shang after the military drill was over.
Yan Shang was thinking with his head down in the study, and Han Shuxing was standing straight in front of him.
Yan Shang raised his eyes to look at the other person's burly figure standing in the shadow, thinking:
Luo Xiu looks like a Wei person, but his heart is with the Southern Barbarians; Han Shuxing has the high nose and deep eyes style of the Wuman people, but he has no good feelings towards the Wuman people, and no sense of belonging to the Southern Barbarians.
The comparison between these two is quite interesting.
Han Shuxing silently let Yan Shang look at him, and he said nothing. Years of life as a slave had cultivated his insensitive and taciturn character. He was used to being beaten and scolded by the nobles. On the contrary, Yan Erlang treated him politely recently, which made him feel uncomfortable.
I suspect Yan Erlang has some ulterior motive.
Han Shuxing felt that the better someone treated him, the more likely they were to want him to repay them with his own death.
He thought indifferently: Whatever. Anyway, Erlang treated him very well, even if he wanted him to die, it didn't matter.
As Han Shuxing stood there numbly, he heard Yan Shang speak softly, apologetically, "I originally promised you that after the military exercise was over and King Wuman left Chang'an, your existence would be safe, and I would return your slavery and let you leave Chang'an. But now I have something to trouble you for..."
Han Shuxing thought: Sure enough. These nobles never keep their promises. The same is true for Yan Erlang.
Yan Shang placed a slave contract on the table and pushed it outward, indicating that Han Shuxing could take it. He said, "I want to ask you to do something before you leave Chang'an. Since there is no precedent, I will treat you as a ranger. I wonder what the price is for a ranger to agree to help someone do something that does not involve life-threatening situations?"
Han Shuxing was stunned for a moment, then suddenly looked up and looked at the man behind the desk.
Han Shuxing looked at the piece of paper that Yan Shang pushed over and said in a hoarse voice: "...What is this?"
Yan Shang: "Slave status. Didn't I say I would set you free?"
Han Shuxing was stunned for a while, and said: "Erlang, you shouldn't return my slavery to me now. You should give it to me after I finish the work for you. Only then can you rest assured that I will not betray you."
Yan Shang smiled: "I just hired you to do business, there is no such thing as betrayal. I said you should be free, and your life should not be controlled by me. As long as you don't harm the Wei Dynasty, you can do whatever you want."
Han Shuxing: "...will you really let me leave Chang'an? Will you not send someone to kill me on the way? I am a Wuman, born to be at odds with you, the Wei Dynasty. Don't you all say that thieves have ambitions, and don't you all say that 'those who are not of my race must have different hearts'? How can you really let me go?"
Han Shuxing would never say this normally, because he didn't trust these nobles at all. But Yan Erlang... Facing Yan Erlang, he wanted to ask this question.
Yan Shang said: "Even so, you should be released if you are innocent. You have been a slave for many years and you don't know what you want to do. You can leave Beijing and try it yourself. I will not send someone to kill you on the way. No matter how I guarantee it now, you will not believe it. Why not give it a try.
"Han Shuxing, this world is not without the right path."
Han Shuxing looked at Yan Shang for a long time and said slowly: "What do you want me to do for you?"
Yan Shang: "Not to help me, but I hire you. Recently, there will be an official named Luo Xiu in Chang'an. He was originally an envoy sent by the King of Nanman. The King of Wuman kept him and said he was a gift to Wei. I believe in the courage of the King of Wuman and believe that he really gave Wei a gift. Under this premise, this Luo Xiu must have done or planned to do something bad to Wei, so the King of Wuman would return the favor and keep this person as a gift.
"Luo Xiu must be out of tune with the Wei officialdom. If he is eager to return to Nanman, he will definitely try to contact the Wuman people in Chang'an, perhaps to help pass on messages or something like that. I hire you, and you have to make Luo Xiu trust you, because you look like a Wuman, and it is easy for Luo Xiu to trust you. And when you get to Luo Xiu, you go and talk to him... I want to know what Luo Xiu has done in the Wei, or what he is going to do."
Han Shuxing nodded. This was indeed an easy task, and there was no danger to one's life.
He took away the slave certificate that Yan Shang had placed on the table. Actually, he was illiterate, so he planned to find someone to help him check whether the slave certificate on the paper was his.
After Han Shuxing left, Yan Shang rubbed his forehead, pondered for a while, and laughed at himself: "I still took advantage of people's hearts."
He took advantage of Han Shuxing's psychology and made Han Shuxing repay him wholeheartedly... He was not the truly upright and honest person that Han Shuxing thought he was.
Yan Shang sat in the study and continued to handle other official business.
Suddenly, there was a rumble of thunder outside, and the rain began to fall. Yan Shang turned his head and looked at the rain outside the window, his eyebrows twitching slightly.
He let Yunshu in and asked the princess next door whether she had returned.
The answer is: Not yet.
-----
Mu Wanyao was trapped in Prince Jin's Mansion due to heavy rain.
Had to have dinner here.
After dinner, the King of Jin wanted to chat with Mu Wanyao, but Mu Wanyao hid back in Chunhua's room. Mu Wanyao was so disrespectful that the King of Jin felt a little uncomfortable, but he still endured it.
In Chunhua's room, Mu Wanyao and she were eating melon seeds and snacks. Chunhua was worried: "Is His Highness not coming back yet?"
Mu Wan shook her head: "No."
Chunhua was confused and didn't know what the princess was thinking. But she soon found out.
Yin Fangtong came in from outside and stood outside the house to report to the princess: "Your Highness, it's getting cold. The people from the princess's mansion sent someone to deliver a sleeve stove. They also brought an umbrella and said they would take the princess back."
Mu Wan raised the corner of her lips.
She threw away the melon seeds, looked at Chunhua and smiled: "Look, someone loves to worry, and sent a sleeve stove."
Chunhua was relieved: "The maids in the mansion are considerate after all."
Mu Wan smiled and stood up, motioning Chunhua to go with her. She pushed the door open and took the sleeve stove from Fang Tong. Fang Tong held an umbrella, and Chunhua and the maids also held umbrellas and escorted the princess out of the house.
Outside the mansion, in the dark rainy night, the puddle on the ground was illuminated as bright as day by the lights on the carriage.
A man stood beside the carriage holding an umbrella. He turned around, his face was elegant and handsome, and Chunhua blurted out: "Yan Erlang!"
Mu Wan walked towards Yan Shang.
Yan Shang nodded slightly to Chunhua, and after paying his respects, he helped the princess get into the carriage. The rain soaked the corner of Yan Shang's sleeve as he turned his back to them. He reached out to hold Mu Wan's arm and helped her get into the carriage. He tilted his head back, and the raindrops flew onto his eyelashes.
Chunhua watched quietly. The princess needed someone who was good at dealing with people and had a lot of thoughts to take care of her. Mu Wanyao actually guessed that Yan Shang would come to see her... It can be seen that Erlang is really getting deeper and deeper into the princess's life.
The carriage drove away, and everyone returned to the palace. A maid nearby didn't understand and asked Chunhua in a low voice: "Isn't Princess Danyang unmarried? But that man... why does he look like a consort?"
Chunhua scolded: "Don't talk nonsense."
But she thought in her heart, maybe he really would be the prince consort.
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